Mold for the manufacture of blocks of artificial stone.



No. 726,665. PATENTBD APE 28, 1903.

4 L. P. FORD.

MOLD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BLOCKS 0P ARTIFICIAL STONE.

APPLIOATION FILED'JULY 8,1902.

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unms PETERS co.. PNO'I'O-LITHO., wmumm'o u c PATENTED APR-28, 1903 I L.-P. Pom MOLD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BLOCKS 0P ARTIFICIAL STONE.

APPLIOATIOIT FILED JULY 8, 1902.

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No. 726,665. PATENTED'APR. 2s, 1.966.

'L.P.PORD. MOLD FOR THE MANUFACTURE or BLOCKS OP ARTIFICIAL STONE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1902.

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' and gases generated. A strong cylindrical mold perforated with a large number of small LEWIS PETER FORD, OF

FFICE.

ATENT GRESFORD, ENGLAND.

MOLD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BLOCKS 0F ARTIFICIAL STONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 726,665, dated April 28, 1903.

Application filed July 8 1902. Serial No. 114,751. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS PETER FORD, a subject of the King of Great Britainyresiding at Gresford, in the county of Denbigh, England, have invented a new and useful Mold for the Manufacture of Blocks of Artificial Stone, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, and for which I have made application for patent in Great Britain, dated December 23, 1901-.

Hitherto when the expansion of materials has been resisted by a mold to obtain compression thereof and to form blocks of artificial stone from sand and limewith orwithout other materials it has been impossible to make such blocks of large size and free from cracks or partings in molds subjected to cold or highly-heated water or steam or to all or any of these in succession; but I am now able to do so by means of the present invention, which consists in the employment of a very strong cylindrical mold perforated with large holes andan innerplate or lining perforated with small holes, such holes being for the admission of the moisture required and subsequently forthe egress of the steam holes would answer thesame purpose; but there is a greater difficulty in manufacturing the same. After a large numberof costly ex-. periments with various sizes, shapes, and thicknesses of molds and many sorts of chemical mixtures and varying processes I discovered that the cracks or partings were due generally not to the chemical action or peculiar process, but to the shape and want of rigidity of the molds hitherto used. I also dscovered that to obtain a good block of stone free from cracks and partings provision had to be made for even and uniform distribution of inlets and outlets for water, steam, air, and gases. Itis especially essential that the'mold be closed absolutely tight, so that the pressure generated therein by the expanding materials cannot open it to the smallest extent, and I have therefore invented a very secure closing means which answers with satisfaction. 1

The construction of my special mold to carry out the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is an end elevation, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation, of the mold with the ends removed. Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a face view and an edge view of one of the ends. Fig. 5 is an end elevation, and Fig. 6 is aplan, of the special closing means shown separately. Fig. 7 is a detail View showing the method of opening the mold. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are detail views showing a modification in the method of attaching the ends to the molds. Fig. 11 is an end view showing the mold made in two parts with two sets-of closing means; and Fig. 12 shows a domed end which may be employed, if desired.

The mold consists of a plate ctof cylindrical form, having a-number of holes a, preferably a half-inch in diameter, formed therein over its entire surface and at about equal distances apart. They are arranged, preferably,one foot apart in rows, and the rows are arranged six inches apart, as shown at Fig. 2, the holes or of each row being intermediate of those in the adjacent rows.

The mold a, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is formed with a butt-joint a on one side thereof and is provided with-very secure fastening means which will insure a water-tight joint under high pressure. It is essential that whatever form of fastening means may be employed the cylindrical form of the mold must not be altered and the joint 0. must be maintained absolutely rigid. The fastening means shown in the drawings consists of two castings or forgings b b, the one, b, having a a Wedge-shaped tongue I) along its entire length and the other, b, having a'similarshaped groove 6 to receive the said tongue W. The casting or stamping b is further provided with one or more pins b", which pass into and fit one or more sockets 19 formed in the casting b. The object of the tongue b and groove 5 and pins 11 and sockets b is to keep the two castings b b in correct relative position to one another and preventany vertical or endwise movement when the two parts I) b are secured together by the nuts 0 and bolts 0, passed through the holes 0 It will be noticed that the castings b b are strengthened along the meeting edges; but they are formed with depressions 0 between the bolt-h0les o to avoid undue weight and whereby I may use shorter rivets at the sides of the castings b b. In order to get the whole of the power of the nuts and bolts 0 c exerted onto the shell or plate Ct, I form a recess cl in the castings I) Z) at their lower part. The bolt-holes c are placed in the castings b b in such a position that the bolts a touch the shell (I. at the joint (1 or in some cases they may be sunk into the body of the shell (1, as shown in Fig. 11. The butt-joint b is essential, as it prevents the internal pressure of the expanding materials bending the bolts 0 and causing the joint a to open slightly on the inside. The castings b b fit the exterior of the plate ctand are preferably secured thereto by rivets 19 The castings are slightly shorter than the plate a, and are provided with screwed studs b which pass through some of the holes 6 in the end plates 6.

The end plates e of the mold are, like the plate Ct, provided with holes a for the passage of steam, water, air, or gases. The plate a is provided, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with angle-irons a around those portions of each end which are not occupied with the castings b b, said angle-irons a being provided with holes a for bolts (1. by means of which and the screwed studs 1) the ends care securely held in position by nuts e The ends e are preferably made of cast-iron, with fiat interior surfaces e and strengtheningribs 6 on the exterior; but they may be made of dome shape, if desired, as shown in Fig. 12. In lieu of employing the angle-irons a I may employ a number of brackets f, preferably as shown at Figs. 8, 9, and 10, which are secured to the plate aby rivets f. Such brackets fwould be provided with suitable holes f for bolts a by means of which the ends 6 would be secured in position.

The mold a is lined on its interior with a thin metal plate g, perforated over its entire surface with very small holes g, arranged at equal distances from each other. These holes g should be preferably arranged one-half inch apart, which is very much closer together than the holes a. The plate 9 is provided with turned-out flanges 9 along its meeting edges, which fit between the meeting edges d of the plate a, and when the mold is ready for use the joint (1, is perfectly watertight under the required steam or water pressure. Similar perforated metal plates 9 are also used to line the end plates 6. The plates 9 are secured to the supporting-plate a and end plates 9 by means of afew rivets 9 The perforations a in the outer shell dare merely provided to form inlets and outlets from the exterior to the back of the thin perforated plates g, the perforations g of which in their turn provide inlets and outlets to and from the materials containedin the mold.

When it is desired: to open the mold, one end is taken off and the nuts 0 are unscrewed. Four of the bolt-holes are screw-threaded in their interior and four thrustbolts 72. (shown in Fig. 7) are inserted therein, which when tightened against each other cause the plate a to spring open sufficiently to release the block of stone contained therein.

If desired, the mold maybe made in two or more parts of either wrought or cast iron or other suitable material, each joint being rigidly connected together by the means herein shown and described, and if the inner plate is also made in corresponding sections all the edges of the inner plates must be secured between the edges of the outer plates in the same manner as above described.

The mold is preferably provided with runners 71 for the purpose of preventing it rolling and to assist in moving it about, as is well understood.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a mold for the manufacture of blocks of artificial stone, where use is made of the expanding property of lime or cement to obtain compression to solidify the blocks; the

combination of a perforated body of flexible metal adapted to be strained in cylindrical term, means attached to said body near its meeting edges, for tightly closing the joint, detachable perforated ends and means for tightly securing said ends to the body, substantially as described.

2. In a mold for the manufacture of blocks of artificial stone, where use is made of the expanding property of lime or cement to obtain compression to solidify the blocks; the combination of a perforated body of flexible metal adapted to be strained in cylindrical form, means attached to said body near its meeting edges, for tightlyclosing the joint, a lining of thin metal having perforations smaller and closer than those in the body, detachable perforated ends and means for tightly securing said ends to the body, substantially as described.

3. A portable mold for the manufacture of blocks of artificial stone, consisting of a perforated cylindrical shell with abutting edges, means attached to said shell near its abutting edges for tightly closing the same, a finelyperforated lining of thin sheet metal, perforated end pieces, and means for securing the end pieces to the shell; substantially as described.

t. In a mold for the manufacture of blocks of artificial stone where use is made of the expanding property of lime or cement to obtain compression to solidify the blocks, the combination of a cylindrical shell, a buttjoint in said shell, means for rigidly closing said butt-joint, perforations in said shell, detachable ends, a thin metal lining, finer perforations in said lining arranged more closely IIO than those in the shell, and flanges on said lining adapted to be closed by the butt-joint of the shell, substantially as set forth.

5. In a mold for the manufacture of blocks of artificial stone where use is made of the expanding property of lime or cement to obtain compression to solidify the blocks, the combination of a cylindrical shell, a buttjoint in said shell, fastening means attached to the meeting edges'of the shell, bolt-holesin the fastening means in close proximity to the shell, bolts and nuts by which such fastening means are secured together, a recess in said fastening means adjacent to thesaid butt-joint, projections and recesses formed on or in said fastening means, perforations in said shell, detachable ends, a thin metal lining, and finer perforations arranged more closely together in said lining, substantially" as set forth.

6. In a mold for the manufacture of blocks of artificial stone where use is made of the expanding property of lime or cement to obtain compression to solidify the blocks, the combination of a cylindrical shell, a buttjoint in said shell, fastening means attached to the meeting'edges of theshell, bolt-holes in the fastening means in close proximity to 3 of said ends, nuts and bolts for securing the ends to the cylindrical shell, a thin metal'lining, and finer perforations in said lining, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 3 5 in presence of two Witnesses.

LEWISPETER FORD.

Witnesses: THOS. (JREssWELL, WM. GIRLING. 

